Filmmakers, especially those who are ready to release their movies, are an angry lot, thanks to the stalemate between warring producers and distributors.
The problem began when satellite television channels went on a movie rights buying spree from distributors and aired the latest films on television, sometimes even before they finished their theatrical run.
Four major Mumbai producers associations -- the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association, Western India Film Producers Association, Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers and the Producers Guild decided to withhold the release of new Hindi films from April 1 until distributors comply with their demand of not selling a film's satellite rights until six months after its release.
Says a director, "It is easy for them [the associations] to sit on their high horse. We are the ones suffering the actual losses."
Anil Sharma's The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy was released despite the ban. Producer Mahesh Manjrekar had decided to release Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaaye on schedule on April 25, but backtracked after an emergency meeting at IMPPA president Smita Thackeray's home.
Says Manjrekar, "Releasing the film was not my decision alone. It was a decision taken by my partner and my director Sanjay Jha. It is Sanjay's first film and he has waited very long to see its release. Is it fair to deprive him of his moment of glory?"
Jha is hoping the deadlock will resolve today so his film can be released April 25. "I have been assured by the film associations that, once the strike is over, my film will be given priority release. So I am okay. The strike can break any time now."
Another new director Ken Ghosh -- known for music videos like Alisha Chinai's Made in India -- was also slated to release his film Ishq Vishk April 25. Now, the film's producers, Tips, are presumably waiting for Manjrekar to take the lead. Tips has already announced May 9 as the new release date.
Says Manjrekar, "I do not mean to disrespect them [the associations]. But I don't think it is right to let this fight go on indefinitely. No one is sure what the film associations want from the distributors. They say the satellite rights should be withheld for six months. Nowadays, films come and go in a few months. Where is the sense in holding on to satellite rights?"
Ask Manjrekar if he is fearful of the repercussions of his defiance and he says, "I am tempted to pack my bags and make a film from out of India."
Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaaye is being readied for a tentative release this Friday at 15 Mumbai theatres. It is unlikely to be released in UP, Bihar and Punjab since the Mumbai film associations main grievance is against distributors from these areas.
Sunny Deol, who stars in The Hero, is vocal about his impatience with the strike. "When a producer has spent so much money promoting and publicising a film like The Hero, how is he expected to scrap his campaign, postpone his film and start from scratch? Maybe small films can afford the delay, big films cannot."
